Form clamp



Patented Mar. 15, 1932 GEORGE B. 30500, OF CHICAGO, ILLIDTOIS roam ommr Application filed May 4,

My present invention relates to improvements in form clamps for use 1n connection with band iron for securing together opposite sides of forms or molds for casting concrete. An article of the same class was disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,475,424, issued to me November 7, 1923, and my experience with the article therein set forth and described disclosed certain conditions which such structures should be designed to meet in order to permit of their most economical and extensive and dependable use. That is to say, as hand iron has relatively littlethickness to width the clamping of the band iron should be, if possible, so as not to tend to shear or even score the same as the band iron, in event of a break, is sure to break'at the partially sheared or scored place. Again, the clamp should be so designed as to permit of either side being applied to the form and to co-operate with the pulling up or tightening tool on either side and in both directions as it not infrequently occurs that the pulling up tool may be easily worked in one direction while there is no room whatsoever in the other direction for its attachment or operation.

Again, it is highly desirable that such clamps be provided with as large an opening as possible for the passage of the band iron, both to permit of the use of different widths and thicknesses of band iron with the sameolamp and also to permit of theeasy threading on and removal of the band iron from the clamp as the band iron is not infrequently bent before its association with the clamp and it is always bent after its association with the clamp. Such a clamp should be designed so it can be made as economically as possible and at the same time should be stiff and sturdy throughout its entire length so as to permit of its use in spanning the distance between parallel battens or whalers, or other.

reinforcements for the sides of the forms. It is also desirable with such structures to provide a sturdy clamping means which will not bend in use, and shallnot be detachable from the clamp.

I have provided a structure which Will satisfactorily conform with the above conditions 1931. Serial No; 534,730.

which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whicha of Fig. 2 particularly showing the way in which the band iron is bent when the wedge member is first driven in.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating how the strain of the band iron after the wedge has been set tendsto more firmly lock it in position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail to an exaggerated scale for clearly illustrating the locking 1 of the band iron upon the application of a Fig. 1 is a perspective of iny improved 7 force suflicient to displace the wedge from its original set; and

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2

showing a means for retaining the wedge member in assembly with the clamp.

Similar reference characters referto similar parts in the respective views. 7

I have chosen a general I-beam pattern for my clamp as securing a maximum of strength with the amount of metal employed in its construction. This I-beam consists of the parallel flanges 10 and 11 connected'by acentral web 12, and in the ends of the web 12 I have provided cut out portions or slots 13 to facili-v tate the nailing'of the clamp in position on the forms. As the slots, hereinafter mentioned, for the passage of the band iron, are so large it is possible to more easily and economically space and nail the clamps in position before the sides of the forms are put in position.

Centrally of the length'of the clamp I provide a pair of spaced transverse webs '14 and 15, the central web 12 merging with the transverse web 14 is interrupted between the webs 14 and 15, and is continued from the transverse web 15 as parallel spaced webs 12a and 12b to adjacent the end of the clamp where they again merge into the longitudinal cen tral web 12 through transverse web 16 disposed obliquely to the transverse webs 14 and 15 It is possible to cast this structure very processed to economicallyas but a single baked core is necessary in forming the slot bounded by the walls 12a, 12?), let 16 and the opening between the transverse webs 14 and 15 may be provided with what are known as green cores. After the above described structure is cast it may be economically and very thoroughly secure what is known as a malleable casting, as all of its parts are relatively thin so as to permit of thorough processin After the structure hereinbefore described has been cast and processed I insert in the slot bounded by the walls 1%, 12b, lt'and 16 a wedge or locking member 17 and secure it from removal by partially punching therefrom a piece of metal 18, as most clearly shown in Fig. 6. The side of the wedge or looking member 17 adjacent the wall 16 is given the same obliquity as that wall, while the side'of the member 1'? which is opposite the transverse web 14: is parallel therewith.

The channel or slot between the walls 14, 12a, 12?), and 16 is extended slightly into the transverse wall 14 so as to provide the shoulders 14 and i l?) and the slot is so much oversize with respect to the thickness of the member 17 that it will seatthe band iron 19 between the shoulders 14a and 146 without any tendency to shear or score the band iron. The edges of the member 17 are square with respect to the sides thereof and parallel with the faces of webs 14 and 16 sothat after the band iron has been seated between the shoulders 14a and 1 2?) any strain upon the band iron will tend to capsizethe member 17 in its laterally oversized slot, thereby more firmly gripping the band iron. This action is indicated in Fig.4 and in a more exaggerated way in Fig. 5.

It will be seen from the foregoing descripti on, taken in connection with the drawings, the wedge or gripping member 17 need only be driven into the slot sufficiently to seat the band iron. between the shoulders 14a and 14?).

It will also be seen that if through ignorance it is attempted .to drive the wedge 17 into the slot further than is required, the rel atively'broad edges of the wedge will'resist such action which, together with the laterally oversized slot, will prevent any shearing or scoring of the band iron.

The openin for the passage of the band iron between the transverse webs 14: and 15 and the flanges 10 and 11 may easily be made so large as not only to permit the easy threading ofthe band iron therethrough but also to permit of the use of a single size of clamp with all the thicknesses and widths of band iron now generally employed in building construction.

Probably the most important single aspect of my new clamp is the prevention of the shearing or scoring of the band iron as dan gerous and expensive accidents may result from such shearing or scoring. It should Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1 V

1. A form clamp comprising an elongated form of metal with opposite parallel faces, having extending between a pair of said parallel faces a longitudinally elongated,

transverse channel with an oblique end wall and an opposite rectangular end wall, said form of metal also having alsecond transverse channel therethrough intersecting with said first mentioned channel acentone end wall, and a wedge co-operating with said first mentioned channel having squared edges parallel respectively with the oblique and rectangular ends of said channel, said wedge being of less thickness than the channel with which it co-operates, whereby it will bend, without shearing or scoring, band metal extending through said second transverse channel, and whereby a strain upon said band metal will tighten the grip of said clamp thereon.

2. A form clamp comprising parallel spaced plates, connected by an nterrupted longitudinal web and a pair of spaced transverse webs, one end of said longitudinal web merging with one of said transverse webs and the other end of said longitudinal web being bifurcated and extending from the other ofsaid transverse webs, which is centrally interrupted, into mergence with an oblique transverse web from which extends the remainder of said longitudinal web, said spaced plates being perforate opposite the in? nor ed es of said transverse and bifurcated longitudinal webs, and a wedge having squared edges co-operating with the channel between said transverse and bifurcated longitudinal webs of less thickness than the width of said channel whereby a displacement of one edge of said wedge will'cause the same to bind in said channel.

GEORGE BOSCO. 

